After many years, I visited Photokina in Cologne.  Billed as the ''centre of the imaging'', the fair took place from 20 to 25 September 2016.   This year's theme was "Imaging Unlimited".  No company or professional in the imaging world can afford to ignore this biannual and largest fair in the world.

Almost everybody has nowadays a camera in their pocket and some of the mobile phones have pretty amazing cameras, provided the light is not too challenging.  As connectivity increases and storage becomes less of an issue, cars, security (professionals), actually anybody can record and store imagery on an ongoing basis.  In most Western and developed countries, a vast majority of the population now uses their smartphone to capture their world and often themselves.   Many of these pictures may not be worth the proverbial 1000 words, but nobody can deny that they are a major tool of communication.

That most of the more sophisticated cameras are still disconnected from a connected world is a bit of a mystery in the fast-evolving  world of networks, devices and machines.  What is described as the Internet of Things (IoT).  photokina will provide insights in that evolution and connectivity.  Increasing all of these devices rely on apps that provide settings.  Most of the more professional cameras have a pre-set build in, but updating and upgrading the way smartphones and their apps do, seems still some steps away.  Part of that is photography is still about decision making to craft the outcome as opposed to recording or taking pictures.

(with a update 26 September 2016)